3) Chicago Bulls remaining UDFA targets
One of the true potential gem finds on the undrafted free agent market will be the former Virginia Cavaliers star senior big man Mamadi Diakite. Coming into the 2019-20 college hoops season, Diakite was widely projected as a late first round draft pick. His age and limited ceiling did put a cap on his draft stock, but he should also have a really high floor.
It’s rare that you see an athletic and polished big man that looks to have a clear niche for himself in an NBA role fall as an undrafted free agent. But that’s what the Bulls could get out of Diakite. The 6-foot-9 and 225 pound Guinean forward had one of his best and most efficient seasons during his senior campaign with Virginia.
During the shortened 2019-20 college hoops season, Diakite played in 30 games with the Hoos (all of which he started in). It was the first season of his career where Diakite started in all of the games he played in. And he averaged 13.7 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He shot 47.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.4 percent from the free-throw line.
The really good news for any team that wants to pursue Diakite as an undrafted free agent is that he is an improving modern big man. He continued to progress as a floor spacer, more efficient one-on-one defender down low, and he’s now more than mobile and agile enough to keep pace defending the pick-and-roll.